Shield roof support

ABSTRACT

A shield roof support has a sole plate, at least one roof or heel plate and a hydraulic element supporting the roof plate from the sole plate. The hydraulic supporting element includes a piston-cylinder actuator mounted inside the sole plate and extending along the longitudinal axis thereof, the movable element of the actuator being connected to one arm of an angle lever pivoted on a horizontal axis on the sole plate and having its other arm pivotally connected to the roof plate, the angle between the two arms of the lever preferably being adjustable. The lever transforms the force-action line of the actuator from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction. Thrust means on the longer arm of the lever are pivotally connected to the roof plate at a fulcrum, and a locking actuator is interconnected between the roof plate and the longer arm of the lever. A second piston-cylinder actuator extending longitudinally of the sole plate is operable to advance the sole plate relative to the working face of a mining operation, for example.

United States Patent [1 1 Koppers 1 SHIELD ROOF SUPPORT [75] Inventor: Manfred Koppers,

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 1, 1971 Germany P 21 59 535.7

[52] US. Cl. 61/45 D, 248/357 [51] Int. Cl E2ld 15/44 [58] Field of Search 61/45 D, 63; 299/31,

[56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,934,376 3/1970 Germany 61/45 D 832,741 1/1970 Canada 61/45 D 1,503,990 10/1967 France 61/45 D 243,551 2/1970 U.S.S.R 61/45 D Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Dec. 18, 1973 to Attorney-John 1. McGlew et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A shield roof support has a sole plate, at least one roof or heel plate and a hydraulic element supporting the roof plate from the sole plate. The hydraulic supporting element includes a piston-cylinder actuator mounted inside the sole plate and extending along the longitudinal axis thereof, the movable element of the actuator being connected to one arm of an angle lever pivoted on a horizontal axis on the sole plate and having its other arm pivotally connected to the roof plate, the angle between the two arms of the lever preferably being adjustable. The lever transforms the forceaction line of the actuator from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction. Thrust means on the longer arm of the lever are pivotally connected to the roof plate at a fulcrum, and a locking actuator is interconnected between the roof plate and the longer arm of the lever. A second piston-cylinder actuator extending longitudinally of the sole plate is operable to advance the sole plate relative to the working face of a mining operation, for example.

il i w SHIELD ROOF SUPPORT FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionis directed to a shield roof support comprising a sole plate, at least one cap or roof plate and at least one hydraulic supporting element supporting the roof plate from the sole plate. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an improved shield roof support including an improved hydraulic supporting element supporting the roof plate.

In underground winning operations, for example, at working faces with mechanical winning and transportation and with mechanical removal of the material, a problem with respect to the roof support is that the latter must meet partly contradictory requirements. On the one hand, the roof must be firmly supported from a face of the workings to the backfilling face, that is, over the entire width of the longwall in each phase of the operation. This means that this region is occupied, to a considerable extent, by supporting elements. On the other hand, this region should be kept free toward the mining face for winning machines and transportation means and, towardthe backfilling face, for back filling devices. A good traveling possibility and adequate provision for the introduction and replacement of operating devices must be assured. In addition, the cross-section of the longwall must be impaired as little as possible by the support, in order to maintain the possibility of adequate ventilation of the operating point, and the frictional resistance of the air current should be kept as low as possible.

A prerequisite for the use of modern winning machines or devices, transportation means, such as chain conveyors or belt conveyors, devices for introducing the backfilling, such as blast pipes, conveyor means for charging backfilling centrifuges, is a stanchion-free mining front and backfilling front, because these machines anddevices must be movable in the assembled state. The supporting elements therefore must be arranged toward the center of the longwall and only behind the above-mentioned devices.

There are known shield roof supports having an arched girder bearing with one end on a sole plate resting on the floor and with the other end in the range of the face on the roof. The shield is supported by a longitudinally adjustable, generally hydraulically operated stanchion, which is also mounted on the sole plate. The object of the shield is to let the roof break in the range of the face, so that it bears on the back of the shield and slides off constantly thereon to the old filled-up works. In the known shield rod supports, the travel along the longwall is greatly impaired and, on the other hand, the cross-section necessary for ventilation is reduced in an adverse manner. When the backfilling is introduced through blast pipes or by corresponding machines, the fouling, particularly of the hydraulically operated supporting elements and, in the given case, also of the control means for moving crosspiece caps, leads frequently to damages of the latter and thus to stoppages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to avoid the above-described disadvantages, the present invention is directed to the problem of keeping the space in front of the mining face, which is bridged over by the shield in a shield roof support of the above-described type, as far as possible free of supporting elements in favor of a better accommodation of piston-cylinder hydraulic actuator mounted inside the sole plate and extending along the longitudinal axis thereof, and by a force-transmitting means transforming the force-action line of this actuator from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction.

In accordance with an advantageous feature of the invention, the force-transmitting means of the supporting element comprises an angle lever with a lower arm whose end is connected to the movable part of the piston-cylinder actuator mounted in the sole plate, and with an upper arm which is designed as a shield. The angle lever can turn about a horizontal axis ina vertical bracket secured on the sole plate. Advantageously, the angle formed by the arms of the angle lever is adjustable.

The piston-cylinder actuator, mounted in the sole plate, can swing, in accordance with the invention, relative to the sole plate about a horizontal axis. In accordance with another advantageous feature of the invention, the movable part of the piston-cylinder actuator is connected to the forked lower arm of the angle lever through two fish plates arranged in parallel relation and symmetrically with respect to the supporting element.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved shield roof support.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a shield roof support which is free of the disadvantages of prior art shield roof supports.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a shield roof support in which a hydraulically actuated supporting element comprises a piston-cylinder actuator mounted inside the sole plate to extend along the longitudinal axis thereof and a force-transmitting means interconnecting the actuator and the roof plate of the shield and transforming the force-action line of the actuator from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of typical embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a shield roof support embodying the invention with a roof supporting plate and with a sole plate extending underneath a conveyor;

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation view, similar to FIG. 1, illustrating another design of the roof-supporting plate; and

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevation view, corresponding to FIG. 1, illustrating another design of the sole plate.

DESCRIPTION OF .THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG; 1, a sole plate 3 is arranged with a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the mining face 1 and on the floor or horizontal support 2, sole plate 3 carrying, at its end remote from mining face 1,

a bearing block 4. An upper arm 6 of an angle lever A is arcuate or substantially arcuate and forms a shield, this arm being directed toward mining face 1. Angle lever A has a lower arm 7 whose free end is connected, through a bearing 8, to a hydraulic supporting element. The hydraulic supporting element 9 comprises a pistoneylinder actuator whose one part, in the present case the cylinder, is pivotally connected to a fulcrum 10 of sole plate 3 and whose other part, in the present case the head 11 of the piston rod, is articulated to one end of a pair of fish plates 12 whose other ends are articulated to the bearing 8 at the free end of lower lever arm 7. Two fishplates 2 are always used, and are placed on opposite sides of the piston-cylinder actuator in parallel relation to each other. The piston-cylinder actuator 9, forming the hydraulic supporting element, is mounted inside sole plate 3 and extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the latter.

At or near the end 13 of angle lever A facing the face 1, there is mounted a thrust element 14 which can be moved toward face 1. The displacement of thrust element 14 is effected by a piston-cylinder actuator 16 whose cylinder is pivotally mounted, at a point 15, on upper lever arm 6 of angle lever A, and whose piston rod engages thrust element 14 at a pivot 17. On the end of thrust element 14 facing face 1, there is pivotally mounted, on the fulcrum 18, a heel or roof plate or cap 19 bearing on the roof. The position of plate-19 can be adjusted and locked through a piston-cylinder actuator 20 whose cylinder is mounted pivotally on the free end of upper lever arm 6 and whose piston rod is pivotally connected to that portion of plate 19 remote from face L The operation of the cylinder-piston actuator 16, for displacing thrust element 14, and of the piston-cylinder actuator 9, for turning angle lever A, can be effected by the same pressure medium. To make sure that fulcrum 18 of thrust element 14, and thus also plate 19, can move vertically or at least substantially vertically during the rotation of angle lever A, the actuator 9 and the actuator 16 can be adapted to each other by corresponding dimensioning of their cross-sections. The amount of hydraulic liquid displaced from actuator 9 during rotation of angle lever A is conducted into actuator 16 for displacing thrust element 14 in such a way that fulcrum 18, and thus plate 19, are displaced on a vertical line. However, this displacement can also be attained by means ofa control valve connected into the cycle.

Referring to FIG. 2, a plate 191 bearing on the roof can be articulated, at its end remote from face 1, in fulcrum 181 of thrust element 141. The piston-cylinder actuator 201 for adjusting and locking plate 191 then has its cylinder hinged on thrust element 141 and its piston rod pivotally connected to plate 191 between fulcrum 181 and face 1.

The displacement of thrust element 14 or 141, and thus of the respective roof plate 19 or 191, also can be effected, in a simplified embodiment, by hand or by a portable mechanical auxiliary device which can be carried along from one timbering unit to another, and the respective end positions be secured by inserting a locking pin. In certain local conditions, plates 19 or 191 also can be omitted.

In order to avoid tipping of the roof support, it is advisable to have sole plate 3 have its end 31,facing face 1, extend under a plate 21 which receives a conveyor 22 between two jaws 23 and 24 projecting vertically upwardly from plate 21. The tipping edge of the shield roof support then lies substantially perpendicularly under the face end of plate 19 or 191 bearing under the roof. The jaws 23 of plate 21 remote from face 1 are pivotally connected, at a pivot 25, to piston rod 26 of an actuator including a cylinder 27. Cylinder 27 is articulated at pivot 28 to sole plate 3. The roof support unit thus can be advanced directly after the passage of the winning machine, that is, after the exposure of a new field, in the direction of coal face 1, with conveyor 22, which remains in its position, serving as an abutment.

In a preferred embodiment, two hydraulic supporting elements 9, working in the same direction, are used in each roof support, and cylinder 27 is arranged between these two actuators. lf plate 19 or 191 need not be adjustable and lockable for operative reasons, the pistoncylinder actuators 20 and 201, respectively, can be omitted. The force which tends to tip the shield roof support then acts at fulcrum 18 or 181. In this case, it is not necessary that sole plate 3 of the shield roof support extend under conveyor 22.

Such an embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 3, wherein conveyor 221 bears directly on floor 2. Before the conveyor is moved, the end 311 of sole plate 3 facing face 1 strikes against side plate 29 of conveyor 221 remote from face 1. A beam 32 is secured by joints 33 to the piston rods 261 of the moving cylinders of three roof supports. Beam 32 is so held spaced from floor 2 by foot plates 34 that end 311 of sole plate 3, toward face 1, can extend under beam 32. Foot plates 34 then extend like a comb between sole plates 3 of two adjacent roof supports. During advance of conveyor 221 by piston rods 26] of the moving cylinders through beam 32, the latter moves beyond the end 311 of sole plate 3. lt is kept at a constant spacing from floor 2 by foot plates 34 so that, when the shield roof support is brought up, end 311 of the sole platecan move again under beams 32. Of the three roof supports interconnected by beam 32, only one roof support moves toward face 1, while the other two roof supports retain the advanced beam 32 in its extreme position, and this then serves as an abutment for the roof support to be moved.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shield roof support for use at a working face and having a sole plate, at least one roof plate and a hydraulic supporting element supporting the roof plate from the sole plate: an improved supporting element constituting the sole support and connection between the roof plate and the sole plate and comprising, in combination, a piston-cylinder actuator mounted inside said sole plate and extending substantially horizontally along the longitudinal axis of said sole plate; and force-transmitting means at the end of said roof plate remote from the working face interconnecting said actuator and said roof plate and transmitting the forceaction line of said actuator from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction; whereby the space defined by said force-transmitting means, the working face, said sole plate and said roof plate is free of obstructions in the form of vertically oriented roof plate supporting elements.

2. In a shield roof support, an improved supporting element, as claimed in claim 1, in which said forcetransmitting means comprises an angle lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said sole plate for pivoting about a substantially horizontal axis; said angle lever having a lower arm articulated to the movable element of said piston-cylinder actuator and an upper arm articulated to said roof plate.

3. In a shield roof support, the improved supporting element, as claimed in claim 2, in which said angle lever is pivotally mounted in a bearing block on said sole plate'.

4. In a shield roof support, the improved supporting element, as claimed in claim 2, in which the angle formed by the arms of said angle lever is adjustable.

5. In a shield roof support, the improved supporting element, as claimed in claim 2, including means pivotally connecting the fixed member of said pistoncylinder actuator to said sole plate for pivoting about a horizontal axis.

6. In a shield roof support, the improved supporting element, as claimed in claim 2, including thrust means extending between the upper arm of said angle lever and said roof plate, and articulated to said upper arm and to said roof plate.

7. In a shield roof support, the improved supporting element, as claimed in claim 6, including hydraulic actuator means articulatedly connecting said roof plate to the upper arm of said lever and operable to lock said roof plate in engagement with the roof.

8. In a shield roof support, the improved supporting element, as claimed in claim 1, in which said sole plate has an extension extendable beneath a conveyor arranged transversely of said shield roof support; and piston-cylinder actuator means connected to said sole plate and engageable with a conveyor to effect adjustment of said sole plate relative to the conveyor.

9. In a shield roof support having a sole plate, at least one roof plate and a hydraulic supporting element supporting the roof plate from the sole plate: an improved supporting element comprising, in combination, a piston-cylinder actuator ,mounted inside said sole plate and extending along the longitudinal axis of said sole plate; an angle lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends in a bearing block on said sole plate for pivoting about a substantially horizontal axis; said angle lever being designed as a shield and having an upper arm articulated to said roof plate; said angle lever having a lower arm; and fishplates connecting the lower arm of said angle lever to the movable element of said pistoncylinder actuator.

10. In a shield roof support, the improved supporting element, as claimed in claim 9, in which the lower arm of said angle lever is forked and is articulatedly connected to the movable element of said piston-cylinder actuator through two fishplates extending parallel to each other and symmetrically relative to said supporting element. 

1. In a shield roof support for use at a working face and having a sole plate, at least one roof plate and a hydraulic supporting element supporting the roof plate from the sole plate: an improved supporting element constituting the sole support and connection between the roof plate and the sole plate and comprising, in combination, a piston-cylinder actuator mounted inside said sole plate and extending substantially horizontally along the longitudinal axis of said sole plate; and forcetransmitting means at the end of said roof plate remote from the working face interconnecting said actuator and said roof plate and transmitting the force-action line of said actuator from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction; whereby the space defined by said force-transmitting means, the working face, said sole plate and said roof plate is free of obstructions in the form of vertically oriented roof plate supporting elements.
 2. In a shield roof support, an improved supporting element, as claimed in claim 1, in which said force-transmitting means comprises an angle lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said sole plate for pivoting about a substantially horizontal axis; said angle lever having a lower arm articulated to the movable element of said piston-cylinder actuator and an upper arm articulated to said roof plate.
 3. In a shield roof support, the improved supporting element, as claimed in claim 2, in which said angle lever is pivotally mounted in a bearing block on said sole plate.
 4. In a shield roof support, the improved supporting element, as claimed in claim 2, in which the angle formed by the arms of said angle lever is adjustable.
 5. In a shield roof support, the improved supporting element, as claimed in claim 2, inCluding means pivotally connecting the fixed member of said piston-cylinder actuator to said sole plate for pivoting about a horizontal axis.
 6. In a shield roof support, the improved supporting element, as claimed in claim 2, including thrust means extending between the upper arm of said angle lever and said roof plate, and articulated to said upper arm and to said roof plate.
 7. In a shield roof support, the improved supporting element, as claimed in claim 6, including hydraulic actuator means articulatedly connecting said roof plate to the upper arm of said lever and operable to lock said roof plate in engagement with the roof.
 8. In a shield roof support, the improved supporting element, as claimed in claim 1, in which said sole plate has an extension extendable beneath a conveyor arranged transversely of said shield roof support; and piston-cylinder actuator means connected to said sole plate and engageable with a conveyor to effect adjustment of said sole plate relative to the conveyor.
 9. In a shield roof support having a sole plate, at least one roof plate and a hydraulic supporting element supporting the roof plate from the sole plate: an improved supporting element comprising, in combination, a piston-cylinder actuator mounted inside said sole plate and extending along the longitudinal axis of said sole plate; an angle lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends in a bearing block on said sole plate for pivoting about a substantially horizontal axis; said angle lever being designed as a shield and having an upper arm articulated to said roof plate; said angle lever having a lower arm; and fishplates connecting the lower arm of said angle lever to the movable element of said piston-cylinder actuator.
 10. In a shield roof support, the improved supporting element, as claimed in claim 9, in which the lower arm of said angle lever is forked and is articulatedly connected to the movable element of said piston-cylinder actuator through two fishplates extending parallel to each other and symmetrically relative to said supporting element. 